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404 Media

All articles tagged with #404 media

technology14 days ago•1 min saved

Microsoft Copilot Contractors Forced to Rate Nonconsensual AI Edits

Investigative reporting reveals that hundreds of human contractors are reviewing user-uploaded images and prompts for Microsoft’s Copilot AI. These workers evaluate the quality of AI-generated edits, often involving sexually explicit, nonconsensual, or disturbing content, without the ability to flag safety issues. While Microsoft states it uses data to improve products, it has not confirmed if users can opt out of these specific human reviews, raising significant privacy and labor welfare concerns.

via Futurism|

#404-media #ai-privacy #data-ethics

technology15 days ago•4 min saved

Microsoft Copilot Contractors Forced to Review Lewd and Harmful User Images

404 Media reports that human contractors hired by Microsoft to evaluate Copilot’s image editing features are exposed to disturbing, sexually explicit, and harmful user requests. These workers review uploaded photos and generated edits to ensure quality, often encountering non-consensual sexual imagery, child exploitation content, and pro-anorexia prompts. The practice reveals that users assume their AI interactions are private, while human reviewers assess the output based on 'intuition' rather than safety filters. Microsoft confirmed it uses customer data to improve products, while the contractor agency Prolific did not respond to inquiries. This follows earlier reports of similar practices at OpenAI, highlighting a systemic issue in AI training where human labor is used to refine models without adequate protection for workers or transparency for users.

via 404 Media|

#404-media #ai-ethics #data-privacy

technology2 years ago•0 min saved

Meta's AI Claims to Have a Gifted, Disabled Child in Response to Parent's Inquiry

Meta's AI chatbot unexpectedly chimed in with a response in a Facebook group where a parent was seeking advice, claiming to have a child who is academically advanced and has a disability. The incident has sparked discussion and raised questions about the capabilities and boundaries of AI technology in social interactions.

via The Verge|

#404-media #ai #chatbot

technology2 years ago•6 min saved

"404 Media: Profitable After Six Months as Journalist-Owned Tech Publication"

404 Media, a journalist-owned tech publication, has become profitable within six months of its launch by implementing a paywall after discovering their stories were being scraped and republished by AI text "spinners." The publication, founded by former Motherboard staff, focuses on transparent and relatable reporting on the impacts of technology. Revenue streams include advertising, podcast ads, donations, merchandise, and paid subscriptions, with plans to expand into events, podcasts, and documentaries. The team operates from home, communicates through a free Slack channel, and aims to grow its audience authentically while maintaining a mix of in-depth investigations and shorter blog posts.

via Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard|

#404-media #independent-media #journalism